Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-02
A DAISY TRUCK
CONTRACTED FOR BY THE FIRE AND POLICE
BOARD, LAST NIGHT
The Apparatus a Most Satisfactory Choice II
Every Rsspect-A Description Of
the Appliance

Atan adjourned meeting of the Board OF
Police and Fire Commissioners, held last
evening, choice Of hook and ladder
truck, under the authority recently granted
by Council, was made, and to-day His
Honor the Mayor will be asked to sign the
papers, that they may be sent on at once.
The truck to be contracted for is made by
the Fire Extinguisher Manufacturing Com
pany, of No. 317 South Desplaines street,
Chicago, and is in all respects model
piece of fire apparatus. The cost will be
81, 975 net, delivered for inspection in this
city. The truck is provided with splen-
did equipment OF ladders, ETC., the most
important of the items being mentioned be-
low.
First comes q seventy-foot extension
ladder, fitted with phosphor-bronze wire
cable and two movable cranes, with safety
clutch dogs. The ladder is ironed top and
bottom, and has iron plates inlaid along
the sides. The sides are made of Oregon
pine, with ash rungs, and all the iorglngs
are of fine wrought iron. This ladder can
be quickly and easily operated and will en-
able the tiremen in case of necessity to
reach the roof of almost any building in
the city. In addition to this extension lad
der there is one 35-foOt ladder, one 3O'ioot,
one 25-foot, one 20-fOot, one l5-foot, ana
one l2-foOt. all of light but strong make.
There are also two rOOf-ladders, one 10 and
the other II feet long, and two l2-fOot sup
ports. -,
There is q complete pompier outfit with
the truck, consisting of three ladders with
steel beaks, 10, II and Is feet long, three
pompier belts, with snaps, ropes, %c.,
and suitable complement of hatchets.
The p0mpier ladders consist OF single
piece of wood with steel bcak or hook
two or three feet long, by which it eau he
hooked over a window sill. The rungs are
put through the wooden support, extend
ing on each side and with one Of these
ladders fireman can ascend a building To
the top by simply unlocking the ladder
when he has reached the second story win
dow, hooking it in the third story, and
going up there and repeating the operation
until he has reached any floor desired.
The truck has seven separate cOmpart-
ments for the reception Of the big ladders,
and any one ladder can be taken out, used
and returned without disturbing the
Others. The compartments are provided
with iron rollers covered with rubber, upon
which the ladders rest, and are held IN
place by polished brass guides.
The truck has compliment OF four
hOok-pOleS, resting in snap sockets one
large steel hook, with chain and rope, six
polished brass lanterns, four being upon
the ladder frame and two on the drivers
seat, two polished brass swinging torches,
four rubber fire buckets, one fancher's
Detroit door opener, steel crow har, four
fire axes, two pitchfOrks, two shovclS and
two brOoms. one tool chest completely sup
piled, together with large amount OF mis-
cellaneous useful articles. Upon either
side of the truck, a little distance back
from the drivers seat, is large Babcock
fire extinguishcr, with twelve feet of hose
for each
The truck is built with wheels of feet
= inches guage, which adapls them 10 the
street car track, aud the weight of the
apparatus complete is $3.50 pounds. The
frame of the truck ~ arched in front TO
allow the fore wheels to turn under 1t.
The frame is of iron and steel, thus COM
hinime great strength with lightn9s. On
either side are platforms for the men to
stand upon while going to u fire. They
are furnished with n polished brass hand
rail, while the drivers seat is similarly
secured, aud fitted with a tilteen-inch gong.
The fOre-wheels are furnished with u brake,
which will hold them when turned in any
position. The steering apparatus is OF the
lever pattern. by using it the trouble
some shaft extending down through the
ladders, which must always he removed
before q ladder can be taken of, il done
away with. This alone is very great i'm
provement over other trucks, AZ q bent
shaft or tight pin may delay the removal
of ladders for several minutes at very
critical time. The truck will be painted
blue, and the running-gear red.
The entire apparatus has handsome
and businesS-like look, and il is sure to
create favorable impression upon its ar
rival in the city. The choice was not made
until the Board had carefully considered
the claims Of the many firms sending in
bids and specifications, and then, in order
that there might he no mistake, Chief Dun
ming went on to Chicago and made 4 per-
sonal inspection of the truck. Both the
Chief and the members of the Board are
convinced that we will have the best thing
in the market and something upon which
reliance can be placed The truck isa lit
tie too long for the present big room at the
hook and ladder house, and small addi-
ton will be erected in the rear, in order to
give space enough.
The next thing the department wants is a
first class chemical engine for the old Hope
house.